Tax Evasion Lawyers in Hermosa Beach
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of willfully failing to pay one's taxes, as required by California law.
Typically, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Hermosa Beach, California is to try and make it look like they have less taxable income than they actually do. This can be done by failing to report income, concealing it, or fraudulently transferring property.
"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of willfully attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves using legal strategies (such as taking advantage of deductions and tax credits) to reduce one's legal tax liability. However, someone engaging in tax avoidance typically intends to pay whatever they end up owing, even as they try to reduce the amount they owe.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in Hermosa Beach, California
Under federal and state law, including the laws of California, tax evasion is a very severe crime.
In Hermosa Beach, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively small fine, and a court order to pay any back taxes as well as interest, all the way up to financial penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as jail time.
Most often, tax evasion - if it's a first offense and the tax liability is small - will not be cause for huge fines or imprisonment. This is especially true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was purposeful, as opposed to an honest mistake.
On the other hand, if the prosecution can prove that a Hermosa Beach, California taxpayer engaged in fraud, and knowingly failed to pay their taxes, a tax court will probably impose the most severe punishment that's allowed by law. This can easily involve jail time.
A Hermosa Beach, California Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Tax lawyers in Hermosa Beach, California can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more easily, and comply with federal and local tax laws.
However, if you're actually accused of tax evasion, you will need a Hermosa Beach, California tax attorney more than ever. If you are, in fact, innocent, a tax attorney can give you the best possible chance of being found not guilty.